Story highlights

Lionel Messi equalizes in the 39th minute with a penalty for his 34th league goal

Mario Balotelli scores twice on his debut for AC Milan in 2-1 win at home to Udinese

Former Manchester City striker scores controversial winning penalty in time added on

Lionel Messi scored for the 12th successive Spanish league match on Sunday to prevent Barcelona falling to a second defeat this season, while Mario Balotelli made the headlines on his return to Italy.

Barca's 1-1 draw at Valencia meant the club's La Liga lead was trimmed to nine points by Atletico Madrid, who later beat Real Betis 1-0, but it moved the Catalans 16 points clear of third-placed Real Madrid.

Stand-in Barca boss Jordi Roura was satisfied with the result following the midweek draw against Real in the first leg of the Spanish Cup semifinal.

"We're coming off of a very tough match away to Madrid and that, from a physical standpoint, always wears you down," said the assistant to coach Tito Vilanova, who was absent due to his ongoing cancer treatment.

"Valencia pressure you a lot and they don't let you play. Their intensity made it difficult for us to play our game and it was hard for us to get close to their area."

Messi leveled with a penalty six minutes before halftime after Valencia's goalscorer Evar Banega fouled Pedro. It was the four-time world player of the year's 34th league goal in 22 games.

Spain dominates football's rich list 11 photos

Spain dominates football's rich list11 photos

Leading the way –

Hide Caption

1 of 11

Spain dominates football's rich list11 photos

Real deal – Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has become an integral part of the club's success both on and off the pitch with the Spanish giant leading the Football Money League table for the eighth year in a row.

Hide Caption

2 of 11

Spain dominates football's rich list11 photos

Barca brand – Leo Messi's goals and success has been key to Barcelona's ability to draw in fans and broadcasters at will. It is the fourth year in a row that the club has finished second in the Football Money League table behind arch-rival Real Madrid.

Hide Caption

3 of 11

Spain dominates football's rich list11 photos

United on course – Robin van Persie, a $38 million summer signing, has helped Manchester United reach the top of the Premier League as it looks to wrestle the title back from rival Manchester City. United, which has recently signed a record shirt deal with General Motors, has been tipped to overhaul the top two over the coming years.

Hide Caption

4 of 11

Spain dominates football's rich list11 photos

Hide Caption

5 of 11

Spain dominates football's rich list11 photos

Bavarian bonus – Bayern Munich, which recently appointed Pep Guardiola as its new manager for the 2013/14 season, remain in fourth position. The German giant reached the Champions League final last season where it was beaten by Chelsea.

Hide Caption

6 of 11

Spain dominates football's rich list11 photos

Spain dominates football's rich list –

Hide Caption

7 of 11

Spain dominates football's rich list11 photos

Chelsea chasing – European Champions League holder Chelsea is fifth in the money list. The London club has spent big money in recent years including the $80 million purchase of Spain striker Fernando Torres.

Hide Caption

8 of 11

Spain dominates football's rich list11 photos

Looks who's watching –

Hide Caption

9 of 11

Spain dominates football's rich list11 photos

Arsenal up there – .Arsenal stays sixth in the table despite it's failure to win a single trophy since 2005. The club has also seen big name departures with Cesc Fabregas joining Barcelona and Robin van Persie moving to Manchester United

Hide Caption

10 of 11

Spain dominates football's rich list11 photos

City slickers – Manchester City's Premier League title win catapulted the club up the Football Money League table and into seventh position. City's revenue grew to $452.6 million, the largest absolute and relative growth of any Money League club.

Hide Caption

11 of 11

EXPAND GALLERY

El Tigre: Falcao on fire 5 photos

El Tigre: Falcao on fire5 photos

The Tiger – Nicknamed "El Tigre" as a boy by his friends, Radamel Falcao has torn apart defenses all over the world. Atletico paid out $53 million to take him to Spain from Porto in 2011 and he more than repaid that fee, firing 36 goals in his first season and leading the club to the victory in the Europa League.

Hide Caption

1 of 5

El Tigre: Falcao on fire5 photos

Deadly duo – Falcao's impressive form has seen him mentioned in the same breath as Barcelona magician Lionel Messi. The Colombian scored a wonderful goal at the Camp Nou to open the scoring in December but Messi grabbed two as Barca eased to a 4-1 win.

Hide Caption

2 of 5

El Tigre: Falcao on fire5 photos

Star man – Atletico is enjoying a successful season with the club second in La Liga, through to the semifinals of the Spanish Cup and also in contention to retain its Europa League title. Falcao has been central to the team's impressive run of form, scoring 18 goals in the league so far this term.

Hide Caption

3 of 5

El Tigre: Falcao on fire5 photos

World Cup dream – Falcao hopes to lead the line for Colombia at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. His nation has not appeared at the finals since 1998 but holds the third of four automatic qualifying places in the South American group.

Hide Caption

4 of 5

El Tigre: Falcao on fire5 photos

Celebrity status – Falcao and his singer songwriter wife Lorelei Taron are both in the celebrity spotlight. It's a role to which the player has had to grow accustomed since becoming a worldwide phenomenon.

Hide Caption

5 of 5

EXPAND GALLERY

Being Balotelli: The life and times of Mario 7 photos

Being Balotelli: The life and times of Mario7 photos

Home again – Mario Balotelli was mobbed by fans outside a restaurant as he returned home to Italy to complete his $30 million move from AC Milan to Manchester City.

Hide Caption

1 of 7

Being Balotelli: The life and times of Mario7 photos

Training ground fracas – His future at the English Premier League champions had been in doubt since his training ground bust-up with manager Roberto Mancini in early January, when coaching staff had to intervene to separate the pair. Mancini later downplayed the tussle, sparked by Balotelli's hostile tackle on a fellow player, as "nothing unusual."

Hide Caption

2 of 7

Being Balotelli: The life and times of Mario7 photos

Balotelli's breakthrough – Balotelli made his Inter Milan debut in 2007 after being signed by the club at the age of 15. He scored the first goals of his senior career in a Coppa Italia match against Reggina in December of that year.

Hide Caption

3 of 7

Being Balotelli: The life and times of Mario7 photos

Testing the Special One – Balotelli joined Manchester City from Italian club Inter Milan. His relationship with Inter coach Jose Mourinho endured numerous ups and downs. Disciplinary issues littered his time at the San Siro and the situation came to a head in March 2010, when Balotelli was left out of Inter's squad for a Champions League tie after an altercation with Mourinho.

Hide Caption

4 of 7

Being Balotelli: The life and times of Mario7 photos

Red mist – Mancini was Balotelli's first coach at Inter Milan and the pair were reunited in 2010 when the striker joined Manchester City. The start of Balotelli's City career was disrupted by injury, but he finally scored his first Premier League goals in a 2-0 away win at West Bromwich Albion. His joy at netting a brace was short-lived, however, as he was sent off after picking up two yellow cards.

Hide Caption

5 of 7

Being Balotelli: The life and times of Mario7 photos

'Why always me?' – Balotelli became a hit with City's fans, as much for off-field antics as his goalscoring. His stock with the supporters was never higher than in October 2011, when he scored twice in City's 6-1 thumping of neighbors Manchester United at Old Trafford. After scoring the first goal in City's victory, he revealed a t-shirt stating "Why always me?" -- instantly creating one of the most iconic images of the Premier League era. City went to beat United to the English title on goal difference with a dramatic last-gasp victory over Queens Park Rangers on the final day of the season.

Hide Caption

6 of 7

Being Balotelli: The life and times of Mario7 photos

Super Mario – Balotelli reminded everyone of his undoubted talent during the 2012 European Championships. He scored three times as Italy reached the final, including both goals in the Azzurri's 2-1 semi win over Germany. Italy lost 4-0 to Spain in the final of the tournament co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine.

Hide Caption

7 of 7

EXPAND GALLERY

Balotelli's training ground bust up 11 photos

Balotelli's training ground bust up11 photos

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini was photographed grappling with his firebrand striker Mario Balotelli during a training run on Thursday, prompting coaching staff to intervene to separate the pair. Mancini later downplayed the tussle, sparked by Balotelli's hostile tackle on a fellow player, as "nothing unusual."

Hide Caption

1 of 11

Balotelli's training ground bust up11 photos

Hide Caption

2 of 11

Balotelli's training ground bust up11 photos

Hide Caption

3 of 11

Balotelli's training ground bust up11 photos

Hide Caption

4 of 11

Balotelli's training ground bust up11 photos

Hide Caption

5 of 11

Balotelli's training ground bust up11 photos

Hide Caption

6 of 11

Balotelli's training ground bust up11 photos

Hide Caption

7 of 11

Balotelli's training ground bust up11 photos

Hide Caption

8 of 11

Balotelli's training ground bust up11 photos

Hide Caption

9 of 11

Balotelli's training ground bust up11 photos

Hide Caption

10 of 11

Balotelli's training ground bust up11 photos

Hide Caption

11 of 11

EXPAND GALLERY

Banega had put sixth-placed Valencia ahead in the 33rd minute after a failed clearance by Gerard Pique.

Roura paid tribute to goalkeeper Victor Valdes, who has been in fine form despite announcing he will not be extending his contract at the Camp Nou -- in particular denying Roberto Soldado a goal at the end.

"He's the best keeper for us. This Sunday he showed that he's at a fantastic level and he denied Valencia the winning goal. While he's with us, he'll help us," Roura said.

Barca could also have snatched a victory, but David Villa missed a golden opportunity to mark his 100th first-team appearance after coming on as a substitute.

Fourth-placed Malaga spurned the chance to close the gap on Real after drawing 1-1 with Real Zaragoza, but Betis stayed a point behind in fifth after Diego Costa's 61st-minute winner for Atletico.

In Italy, Juventus moved three points clear at the top of Serie A with a 2-1 win at Chievo but the big story of the day was Balotelli's controversial debut for AC Milan.

The former Manchester City striker put his side 1-0 up with a left-foot volley after 25 minutes against Udinese, who leveled through Giampiero Pinzi.

However, Balotelli had the final say with a trademark penalty in the fourth minute of time added on after Stephan El Shaarawy went down under what looked like a fair tackle from Thomas Heurtaux.

It lifted Milan to fourth in the table on goal difference above city rivals Internazionale.

Balotelli's former club crashed to a 3-1 defeat at Siera, while third-placed Lazio lost 3-2 at Genoa.

In Germany, two-time defending champions Borussia Dortmund moved above Bayer Leverkusen into second place after winning their clash 3-2.

Dortmund led 2-0 in side 10 minutes but the home side leveled with two goals in four second-half minutes from midfielder Stefan Reinartz before Poland striker Robert Lewandowski struck the winner from close range just 60 seconds later.

Dortmund could afford to miss a penalty by Poland midfielder Jakub Blaszczykowski, who had scored in the first half, but trail Bayern Munich by 12 points with 14 games to play.

Seventh-placed Borussia Monchengladbach's European hopes suffered a blow with a 2-1 defeat by fifth-from-bottom Nuremberg.